Eirgrid facing showdown with landowners after issuing letters seeking meetings on Interconnector project

A MAJOR showdown is on the cards between landowners along the route of the North South Interconnector and Eirgrid, as the electricity company moves to progress the project.

Farmers along the route have warned Eirgrid that any communication "whether in writing or in person, will be regarded as an unwarranted intrusion of privacy" and any breach "may result in legal proceedings which will be issued without further notice."

Eirgrid has written to landowners stating the importance of meeting in person with all landowners, stating that construction will start next year.

While indicating it may take some weeks to get to everyone, the letter states "Please be assured that we will visit you and take the time to answer any questions you may have".

The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) has accused Eirgrid of being "aggressive and dictatorial" in the letter and said it will be contacting Eirgrid directly, as well as Government elected representatives.

There will also be a public meeting "to highlight the futility of this latest ploy and the need for our elected representatives to get a grip on the situation and come up with a realistic solution."

"This is a letter to landowners who have told Eirgrid for the last 10 years that they do not want to meet them," said a spokesperson.

"The letter from Eirgrid changes nothing. It is a plan to divide landowners and communities through the use of taxpayers’ own monies, with no governance or oversight. It is a disgrace. But it will only serve to further disenfranchise Eirgrid from the people they need to listen to achieve a reasonable solution."

The letter, which went out to landowners late last week, said the North-South Interconnector will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland by means of a 138km long, high-capacity 400 kV electric line.

"As planning approval has now been granted across both jurisdictions, construction will commence in 2024. The project is scheduled for completion in three years.

"SONI have been engaging with landowners in Northern Ireland and in excess of 50 per cent have agreed access and compensation terms to date. The remainder of these are anticipated to be completed by year end."

The letter goes on to say that when landowners enable strategic development with infrastructure on their lands, they are entitled to be compensated.

"Eirgrid Agricultural Liaison Officers (ALOs) will shortly visit all landowners to discuss compensation as part of a landowner pack, which will be posted out to you in advance of their visit."

The landowner pack will include a letter explaining details of an option agreement with associated compensation, and next steps, a map which will show the intended route of the electric line across the owner's lands and a project update brochure outlining community benefit fund and details of proximity payments for those living close to the line.

NEPPC said that following unannounced visits and contacts in the past, the vast majority of landowners along the route had signed ‘Forms of Authority’ requesting NEPPC to represent them in all dealings with Eirgrid and that all communications from Eirgrid should be via NEPPC.

"Eirgrid has received copies and acknowledged all of these Forms of Authority. NEPPC has written agreement from the legal Department of EirGrid from many years ago that the landowners requests would be respected and that all correspondence would be through NEPPC, except any statutory/formal documents that were required to be delivered directly. This position has by and large been respected by Eirgrid over the last number of years. NEPPC has always acted in good faith in this regard and have behaved very reasonably in all matters," said the NEPPC spokesperson. "The recent letter by Eirgrid to landowners is a total breach of agreed conditions. The company has sent letters to all landowners, against the landowners expressed request. Eirgrid has sent a copy of the letter to elected representatives in the affected counties. But not a single communication to NEPPC. The strategy is obvious – try and alienate NEPPC from representing the landowners and try and divide and split the landowners with proposed compensation packages."

The letters sent to Eirgrid by landowners int he past directs the company to refer all communications to their NEPPC representative "who has been duly authorised by the North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) Committee and North East Pylon Campaign Limited to deal with such communications and act as our agent and representative."

The communication also requested that all statutory correspondence from Eirgrid, ESB, ESB Networks, ESB Networks Ltd including maps of pylon positions, access routes and stringing areas are also forwarded to NEPPC.

"I will not engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Eirgrid, ESB, ESB Networks, ESB Networks Ltd personnel, their servants and/or agents, in respect of the above project. Any such communication, whether in writing or in person, will be regarded as an unwarranted intrusion of privacy and action will be taken accordingly to prevent any recurrence of same," the letters state.

The letters go on to say "that no representative, servant and/or agent of Eirgrid, ESB, ESB Networks, ESB Networks Ltd, is permitted to enter onto my/our land and premises

"Any unauthorised entry will be regarded as an unlawful trespass, as having taken place without consent, and legal action may ensue on foot of such unauthorised entry."

Eirgrid has been approached for comment.